The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has commenced the distribution of 24,302 food baskets donated by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to vulnerable households across five states, with Kebbi State among the beneficiaries.
Flagging off the exercise in Birnin Kebbi, the Director-General of NEMA, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, said the intervention forms part of ongoing humanitarian efforts to cushion the impact of economic hardship on vulnerable Nigerians.
Represented by the Director of Special Duties, Hajiya Fatima Suleiman, the NEMA boss launched both the distribution of the Presidential Emergency Food Intervention for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Shanga Local Government Area and the food baskets donated by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief).
She disclosed that Kebbi State received 4,399 food baskets under the programme, which targets already-profiled vulnerable households, while the total 24,302 food baskets will be distributed across Kebbi, Benue, Anambra, Yobe and Taraba states.
Mrs. Umar commended the enduring humanitarian partnership between NEMA and KSrelief, noting that previous interventions by the Saudi-based relief agency had provided vital support to internally displaced persons and other vulnerable groups in Kebbi State.
She assured stakeholders that the distribution would be carried out transparently and in line with established accountability procedures through collaboration between NEMA, the Kebbi State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and trained volunteers.
Speaking at the event, Kebbi State Governor, Nasiru Idris, expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for sustaining humanitarian programmes aimed at supporting vulnerable Nigerians.
The governor also lauded the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for their continued generosity towards people affected by hardship and humanitarian challenges in Nigeria.
Governor Idris urged beneficiaries to make judicious use of the food items to support their families and warned against selling the relief materials, stressing that the intervention was intended to provide relief to those most in need.
The distribution exercise is expected to bring much-needed succour to thousands of vulnerable households while reinforcing the collaborative efforts of the Federal Government, NEMA and international humanitarian partners to tackle food insecurity and improve the welfare of affected communities.
